Means for transferring cargo shipping containers between container supporting means



June 30, 1959 E. L. DECKER 2,892,554

MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING CARGO SHIPPING CONTAINERS v BETWEEN CONTAINER SUPPORTING MEANS I Filed Aug. 28. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Edmond L. Dec ke r H was DECKER MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING CARGO SHIPPING CONTAINERS June 30, 1959 BETWEEN CONTAINER SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Aug. 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .7 Hi-- lo INVENTOR. Edmond L Decker A'H'orn eys E. L. DECKER June 30, 1959 MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING CARGO SHIPPING CONTAINERS BETWEEN CONTAINER SUPPORTING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 28, 1958 tin IuH-EQIHE\H\I MEIHW INVENTOR.

Edmond L. Deckeo A-horneys E. 1.. DECKER 2,892,554 FOR TRANSFERRING CARGO SHIPPING CONTAINERS BETWEEN, CONTAINER SUPPORTING MEANS June 30, 1959 MEANS 4-Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 28, 1958 INVENTOR. Edmond L. Decker BY M vaw w AH'orneys MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING CARGO SHIPPING CONTAINERS BETWEEN CONTAINER SUP- PORTING MEANS Edmond L. Decker, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Russell W. Keiser, Birmingham, Ala.

Application August 28, 1958, Serial No. 757,728

9 Claims. (Cl. 214-38) This-invention relates to transportation equipment, and more particularly to transfer means for transferring cargo shipping containers continuously from a container supporting means adjacent one side of the transfer means to another container supporting means adjacent the other side of the transfer means.

My prior copending application, Serial No. 740,346, .-filed J une:6, 1958, entitled Method and Means for Transferring Shipping Containers, is directed to transfer apparatus having a pair of elevator units mounted on a longitudinally extending frame which units each have an arm that may be extended to either side of the frame. The apparatus covered by my prior application has been found to operate effectively and efficiently with a single armpn eachof the elevator units.

The present application is directed to transfer apparatus in which each elevator unit has a pair of extensible arms thereon with one of the arms being mounted for movement to extended position on one end of the elevator unit, and the other of the arms being mounted for movement to extended position on the other end of the elevator unit. By this arrangement the shipping container may be transferred from a conveying vehicle on which .the end of one extended arm is supported ,to another .co-nveying vehicle on which the end of the other extended arm is supported, and in a single continuous movement without stopping the travelling of the container. While it is normally necessary that the supporting surfaces of the conveying vehicles between which the container is .being conveyed be in substantial alignment in order to obtain a continuous movement of the container bet-ween the vehicles, the transfer process is decreased over that of the prior art even when-the supporting surfaces are not aligned. This is due to the fact that it is normally only necessary to lower or raise the elevator units while partially extending or retractingthe arms on only one side of the transfer apparatus if the supporting surfaces are no a i ne It isan .object of the present invention "to provide transfer apparatus having anelevator unit with a pair of extej sible arms thereon, one of the arms being mounted for movement to extend position on one side of the apparatus and the other of the pair of arms being mounted for movementto extended position on the other side of the apparatus.

It is a further object to provide hydraulic jack means on the end of-each elevator unit which means moves downwardly to engage the ground or supporting surface for the'transfer vehicle and thereby removes the weight of the cargo container from the vehicle frame aswell as moving the elevator unit vertically relatively to the longitudinal frame on which the elevator unit'is mounted.

Briefly described, the apparatus of my invention comprises atransfer unit having a longitudinally extending frame on which a pair of elevator units is mounted transversely. A pair of extensible arms is mounted on'each of the elevator units and the arms are movable therewith. O e o h p of ms is mo nted formovement 2,892,554 Fatenied June so, 1959 to extended position on one endof each of the units and the other of the pair of arms is mounted for movement to extended position on the other end of-each of'the'units. 'Rollers are provided onthe upper surface of-the elevator units and on theupper surface of each-of the arms tosupport and convey the container therealong. Hydraulic jack means are provided-on each end of the elevatorunits to move the elevator units vertically and are adapted to move downwardly to engage the ground or supporting surface of the vehicle on which the elevator units'are mounted. Hydraulic jack means are also providedon the extensible end of each of the arms and are adapted ito move downwardly to engage the surface on which the cargo container is being supported in order to raise the: cargo container off the supporting surface. Additional hydraulic jack means are disposed on the frame of theelevator unit so that the container may be raised relatively to the elevator unit and the arms to allow the ex tensiblearms to be extended without interference by the: container.

Apparatusembodying features of my invention is illustrated .in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my transfer apparatus showing a shipping container in dotted lines being transferred from one conveying vehicle adjacent one side of the transfer apparatus to a second conveying vehicle adjacent the other side of the transfer apparatus, the container being moved in a continuous manner;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the transfer ap paratus shown in Fig. 1 with the shipping container being transferred from one conveying vehicle to a second con veying vehicle and with the elevator units beingtsupported by hydraulic jack means engaging the supporting surface for the transfer apparatus;

Fig. 3 is .a top plan view of'one of the elevator units detached from the vehicle and showing two extensible arms in retracted position;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the detached elevator unit shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view o-fthe guides for guiding the elevator unit as it is moved ver-' tically, the extensible arms and frame of the unit being shown in section;

Fig. 6 is afragmentary side elevational view of a modification ofthe hydraulic jack means supporting tbe ends of the elevator unit; 1

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary end'elevation al view of the drive means for extending the arms and rotating the-rollers on the elevator units;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side'elevational view of the drive means shown in Fig. 7 and further showing the countershaft driven by the drive means; and,

Fig. 9 is a hydraulic schematic diagram of the hydraulic system for the transfer apparatus forming my invention.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of'my invention, I show in Figs. 1 and'Z a cargo shipping container 10, being transferred from a railroad flat car 11 mounted on rails 12. The container 10 has a pair of transverse slots 13 extending across thebottom thereof, and in'which the transfer apparatus 14 of my-in vention supports the container 10. A roadway convey ing vehicle 16 is disposed adjacent one side of transfer apparatus 14 while the railway fiat car 11 is disposed adjacent the other side of transfer apparatus 14' opposite roadway vehicle 16. The container 10 is conveyed in a continuous, uninterrupted manner from the railroad car 11 to the roadway conveying vehicle 16 by my transfer apparatus 14. The highway conveyingvehicle 16 and the shipping container 10 are of the type shown anddescribed in my prior application, Serial No. 740,346.

The transfer apparatus 14 forming my invention comprises a vehicle having a longitudinally extending frame 21 with front and rear elevator units 22 and 23 respectively, mounted transversely on frame 21 with the ends of the units 22 and 23 overhanging the sides of frame 21.

The longitudinally extending frame 21 comprises a pair of spaced channel members 24 on which the elevator units 22 and 23 are mounted. The rear elevator unit 23 is adapted to move longitudinally on the channel members 24 and is mounted on a plate 26 for this purpose. The horizontal plate 26 has side plates 27 (see Fig. welded thereto and the channel members 24 are greased on the areas at which they are in frictional contact with the plate member 26 so that rear unit 23 may move easily therealong. A hydraulic motor 28 (see Fig. l) is mounted on the frame of the transfer unit and drives a shaft 29 through a pinion 31 and a spur gear 32. Pinion is mounted on shaft 29 and meshes with a spur gear 33 on countershaft 34. A double cable drum 36 is mounted on shaft 34 and has a cable 37 secured to one side of the plate 26. Cable 38 extends around a pulley 39 on an opposite side of the plate 26 and is fed off of the drum 36. Hydraulic motor 28 is reversible and drum 36 may be rotated in either direction for moving the rear elevator unit 23 in either direc tion. Thus, the spacing between the front and rear elevator units 22 and 23 may be varied to accommodate containers 10 which are of different lengths and have difierent spacing between the slots 13 across the bottom of the container.

To move the elevator units 22 and 23 vertically relative to the longitudinal frame 21, hydraulic jack means 41 are arranged on each end of each of the elevator units. Piston rod 42 moves downwardly from the elevator units 22 and 23 and has a pivotally mounted supporting plate 43 on the lower end thereof which is adapted to engage the supporting surface for transfer apparatus 14. Upon the plate 43 engaging the supporting surface, the elevator units 22 and 23 are moved upwardly upon further actuation of hydraulic means 41. The jack means 41 remove the weight of the container 10 from the vehicle frame 21 and are disposed between wheel units 44. To guide the elevator units 22 and 23 as they are being moved vertically, a pair of holders 46 (see Fig. 5) is secured to each of the side plates 27 and supporting rods 47 fit slidably in the holders 46. The upper ends of the supporting rods 47 are secured to angle member 48 having a pair of brackets 49 welded on the upper side thereof. A connecting bar 51 extends through an opening in the brackets 49 and through transverse slots 50 (see Fig. 2) in extensions 52 extending downwardly from the elevator units 22 and 23. Support rods 47 aid in guiding and supporting the ele vator units 22 and 23 as they are being moved vertically and keep the units from rocking relatively to the frame 21. The laterally extending slots 50 allow the units 22 and 23 to be tilted transversely of the frame 21 by relative movement between hydraulic jack means 41 on different sides of the frame 21.

Fig. 6 discloses a modification of the hydraulic jack means for moving the elevator units 22 and 23 vertically and is similar to the arrangement disclosed in my previously mentioned application Serial No. 740,346. This embodiment comprises hydraulic jack means 53 secured to side plates 2711 with the piston rod 54 secured at its upper end to angle member 48a by a pair of nuts 56 on each side of member 48a. Thus, upon actuation of hydraulic jack means 53, the elevator units 22 and 23 will be moved vertically without the jack means contacting the ground or supporting surface on which the transfer apparatus 14 is supported. The holders 46a and support rods 47:: are identical to those shown in Fig. 5.

The elevator units 22 and 23 have container engaging rollers 57 spaced along the upper surface thereof for 4 I supporting and conveying the shipping container 10 therealong. The rollers 57 are mounted on shafts 58 and are driven through sprockets 59 and sprocket chains 61 as will be described below. Hydraulic cylinders 62 having a piston rod 63 with a plate member 64 secured to the upper end thereof are mounted on each end of the elevator units 22 and 23. Upon actuation of the cylinder 62 with a container 10 supported on the elevator units, the container 10 will be lifted relative to the elevator units 22 and 23 by engagement of plate members 64 with the slots 13 on the underside of container 10.

The elevator units 22 and 23 are identical except that the rear elevator unit 23 is movable longitudinal of frame 21. Thus, referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, one of the elevator units is shown in detail. A pair of extensible arms 66 and 67 is mounted on the elevator units for extension from the ends of the elevator unit. Arm 66 is adapted for extension to the left viewing Figs. 3 and 4, and arm 67 is adapted for extension to the right viewing Figs. 3 and 4. The arms 66 and 67 are not adapted individually for extension on either end of the elevator units, but are only adapted for extension from one end thereof.

Arms 66 have rollers 68 (see Fig. 5) on one side thereof which fit in inner channel members 69 on the elevator units in supporting relation for rolling thereon. The elevator units have outer inturned channel members 71 with rollers 72 secured thereto. The arms 66 have an outturned channel member 73 which is supported on and slides along the rollers 72. Supporting rollers 74 are provided on the upper surface of member 66 for supporting and conveying shipping container 10 along the arm 66. Rollers 74 are mounted on shafts 76 which are driven by sprockets 77 connected by sprocket chains 78 in a manner to be described in further detail below. A hydraulic cylinder 79 is disposed on the extended end of arm 66 to support the arm 66 in extended position and to raise the container 10 thereon.

Arms 67 have rollers 81 on one side thereof which are supported on an inturned channel member 82 of the elevator units. Rollers 83 are disposed on channel 85 of the elevator units and engage in supporting relation a flange of channel member 84 on arm 67, the flange of channel member 84 riding on the rollers 83. Supporting rollers 86 are provided on the upper surface of arm 67 for supporting and conveying the shipping container therealong. The rollers 86 are connected in driving relation to each other by sprockets 87 and sprocket chains 88, the rollers 86 being secured to shafts 89. A hydraulic cylinder 91 is provided on the end of arm 67 that is to be extended and supports the end of arm 67 when the arm is extended and raises the shipping container 10 on the arm.

The drive means for my container transfer apparatus (see Figs. 7 and 8) comprises a hydraulic motor-93 on each of the elevator units having a drive shaft 94 extending therefrom to a gear reducer 96. A coupling 97 is positioned between the motor 93 and the gear reducer 96. An output shaft 98 of gear reducer 96 has a sprocket 99 fixedly mounted thereon. Sprocket 99 drives the sprocket 101 through a sprocket chain 102 extending between sprockets 99 and 101. Sprocket 101 is secured to a countershaft 104 and the rollers 57 are driven through sprockets 106 mounted on shaft 104. Sprocket 106 is connected by sprocket chain 107 to sprocket 108 on shaft 58 of the roller 57 on the extreme left viewing Fig. 3. The other rollers 57 are driven through sprockets 59 and sprocket chains 61. The last roller 57 on the right viewing Fig. 3, drives a sprocket 111 that drives countershaft 112 (see Fig. 4) through sprocket 113 secured thereon. A pinion 114 is freely mounted on shaft 112 and engages a rack 116 on the underside of arm 67. A clutch 117 is provided on shaft 112 to engage the pinion 114 thereby to extend the arm 67 to the right.

Gear 118 is secured to shaft 112 to drive the rollers on arms 67 when arms 67 are extended. Gear 118 engages idler gear 131, see Fig. 3, which-in turn engages gear 132 on shaft 89 to drive the end roller 86. The remaining rollers 86 are driven through sprockets 87 and sprocket chains 88.

Pinion 123 is freely mounted on shaft 104 and engages a rack 124 on the underside of arm 66 to extend arm 66 to the left viewing Figs. 3 and 4. A clutch 126 is provided to engage pinion 123 and thereby extend arm 66. To rotate the rollers 74 on arm 66 when it is extended, a gear 128 is fixedly mounted on 'shaft104- and engages idler gear 121 which, in turn, engages gear 122 to drive the end roller 74. The remaining rollers 74 are driven through sprocket 77 and sprocket chains 78. The rollers 74 and 86 are driven only when the arms 66 and 67 are extended. The rollers 57 on the elevator units 22 and 23 are driven when the arms 66 and 67 are retracted if it is desired to move the container 10.

Referring now to Fig. 9 in which the hydraulic system of my transfer apparatus is shown diagrammatically, the hydraulic fluid reservoir 134 has a pump 136 connected thereto through flow line 137. Pump 136 is connected to the valve bank indicated generally by the numeral 138 by flow line 139, a return line to the reservoir 134 indicated by the numeral 141. A pump 142 is connected to reservoir 134 through line 143 and is connected to a valve bank indicated generally by the numeral 144 by line 146. A return line 147 is provided for returning fluid to the reservoir 134 from valve bank 144. The pumps 136 and 142 are driven by the power take-off, not shown, of the vehicle on which my apparatus is mounted. A hand lever, not shown, is provided for each of the valve sections of the valve banks 138 and 144.

Valve sections 151 and 152 of valve bank 138 operate the hydraulic cylinders 41 on the rear elevator unit 23 for moving the unit 23 vertically and for tilting the unit transversely of the vehicle frame. Valve section 153 actuates the hydraulic cylinders 62 on both the front and rear units 22 and 23 to raise the shipping container above the elevator units for extension of the arms 66 and 67.

Valve sections 154 and 155 control the hydraulic cylinders 41 on the front elevator unit 22 to raise and lower the front unit. Valve section 156 controls reversible motor 72 for the front elevator unit 22 through flow lines 157 and 158, the return line 159 returning the fluid to reservoir 134.

Valve section 161 of valve bank 144 actuates motor 93 for the rear elevator unit 23 by fluid lines 162 and 163. A return line 164 is provided for returning fluid from motor 93 to the reservoir 134. Valve section 166 controls the hydraulic cylinders 79 on the arms 66 to raise and lower the arms when the ends thereof are being supported in extended position.

Valve section 167 controls motor 28 for moving the rear elevator unit 23 longitudinally along the frame 21 in order to vary the spacing between the units 22 and 23. Fluid lines 168 and 169 connect motor 28 to valve section 167 and a return line 171 returns the fluid to reservoir 134. Valve section 172 controls the hydraulic cylinder 91 on the ends of arms 67 to raise and lower the arms when the arms are extended and supported thereat.

The clutches 117 and 126 for the pinions 114 and 123 are air operated and suitable controls (not shown) are provided to actuate the clutches 117 and 126 to extend the arms 66 and 67 If desired, lock means to lock the arms 66 and 67 in extended or retracted position may be provided as a safety measure and to assure that the arms are in fully extended or fully retracted position before the actuation of the rollers and the movement of the container on the arms 22 and 23.

From the foregoing, a container transfer unit has been described which may transfer a shipping container from a conveying vehicle on one side of my transfer apparatus to a conveying vehicle on the other side of my transfer apparatus without any interruption in the movement of the container. This arrangement is possible since a pair of extensible arms is provided on each of the elevator units with one of the arms being moved to extended position on one end of the unit and the other of the arms being moved to extended position on the other end of the unit. Further, I have provided hydraulic jack means that engage the supporting surface on which my transfer apparatus is supported intermediate of the wheel units and thereby minimize any deflection in the longitudinal frame of my transfer apparatus.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A transfer unit for transferring a shipping container between conveying vehicles on opposite sides of said transfer unit comprising a longitudinally extending frame, a pair of spaced elevator units mounted transversely on said frame, means to lift and tilt the elevator units transversely of said frame to adapt the units for lifting and supporting the container, a pair of extensible arms mounted on each of the elevator units and movable therewith, one of said arms being movable to extended position on one end of the elevator units transversely of the frame and the other of said arms being movable to extended position on the opposite end of the elevator units, means to extend said arms, and means on said elevator units adapted to raise the container relative to the elevator units whereby the arms may be extended relatively to the container when the container is on the transfer unit.

2. A detachable elevator unit adapted to support and transfer a shipping container between container supporting means adjacent each end of the unit, comprising means on each end of the elevator unit to move the unit vertically and to tilt the elevator unit in the direction of transfer of the shipping container, a pair of extensible arms mounted on the elevator unit and movable therewith, one of said arms being mounted for movement to extended position on one end of the elevator unit and the other of said arms being mounted for movement to extended position on the other end of the elevator unit, hydraulic means on the extended end of said arms adapted to engage the container supporting means and support the arms thereat, and means on said elevator unit adapted to raise the container relative to the arms whereby the arms may be extended relatively to the container when the container is supported on the elevator unit.

3. A detachable elevator unit adapted to support and transfer a shipping container between container supporting means adjacent each end of the unit, comprising hydraulic jack means on each end of the elevator unit to move the unit vertically and to tilt the elevator unit in the direction of transfer of the shipping container, a pair of extensible arms mounted on the elevator unit and movable therewith, said arms being spaced horizontally on said elevator, one of said arms being mounted for movement to extended position on one end of the elevator unit and the other of said arms being mounted for movement to extended position on the other end of the elevator unit, means on the extended end of each of said arms adapted to move downwardly to engagement with the container supporting means to support the ends of the extended arms, means on said elevator unit adapted to raise the container relative to the arms whereby the arms may be extended when the container is supported on the unit, and conveying means on the upper surface of said arms and said elevator unit to move the container therealong.

4. A vehicle adapted to support and transfer a cargo shipping container from container supporting means adjacent opposite sides of the vehicle, comprising a longitudinally extending frame, a pair of spaced elevator units mounted transversely on said frame and overhanging the sides of said frame, hydraulic jack means on each of the overhanging portions of said elevator units adapted to move downwardly to engagement with the surface on which the vehicle is supported thereby lifting the elevator units, a pair of extensible arms mounted on each of the elevator units and movable therewith, one of said arms being mounted for movement to extended position over one side of the frame and the other of said pair of arms being mounted for movement to extended position over the other side of the frame, means on each of said elevator units adapted to raise the container relative to the arms, and means on the extended end of each of said arms adapted to move downwardly to engagement with the container supporting means.

5. The vehicle defined in claim 4 further characterized in that rollers are mounted on the top surface of each of said arms adapted to engage and convey the shipping container along the arms, and means are provided for driving said rollers.

6. The combination with a cargo shipping container having a pair of slots extending transversely across the bottom thereof, of a vehicle for transferring the container, comprising a longitudinally extending frame, a pair of elevator units mounted transversely on said frame and being of a width less than the width of the slots in said container for fitting therein, a pair of horizontally spaced extensible arms mounted on each of the elevator units and movable therewith, one of said arms being mounted for movement to extended position on one side of said frame and the other of said pair of arms being mounted for movement to extended position on the other side of said frame, means to raise the elevator units relative to the frame and to tilt the units transversely of the frame, and means on each of the elevator units to raise the container relative to the arms.

7. The combination with a cargo shipping container having a pair of slots extending transversely across the bottom thereof, of a vehicle adapted to transfer the container between container supporting means adjacent opposite sides of the vehicle, comprising a longitudinally extending frame, a pair of horizontally spaced elevator units mounted transversely on said frame and overhanging the sides of said frame, said units being of a width less than the width of the container slots for fitting therein, hydraulic jack means on each of the overhanging portions of said elevator units adapted to move downwardly to engage the surface on which the vehicle is supported thereby lifting the elevator units relatively to the frame, a pair of horizontally spaced extensible arms mounted on each of the elevator units and movable therewith, one of said arms being mounted for movement to extended position on one side of the frame over a container supporting means and the other of said pair of arms being mounted for movement to extended position on the other side of the frame over a container supporting means, means to extend the arms, means on each of said elevator units to raise the container relative to the arms, and means on the extended end of each of said arms adapted to move downwardly to engage the container supporting means when the arms are extended thereover.

8. The vehicle defined in claim 7 further characterized in that rollers are mounted on the top surface of each of said arms to engage and convey the shipping container along the arms, and means mounted on said elevator units for driving said rollers.

9. The vehicle defined in claim 7 further characterized in that one of said elevator units is movable longitudinally on said frame whereby the spacing between the elevator units may be varied to accommodate the slots in said container.

2,004,095 Hankins et a1. June 11, 1935 Schroeder Jan. s, 1915 i 

